The word "''abhidhéya''" is a

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...

term which, along with ''

sambandham Sambandham was an informal mode of marriage followed by Nairs, Samantha Kshatriyas, Kshatriyas, and Ambalavasis among their own communities as well as with the Nambudiris, in what is the present day state of Kerala, India. All of these were matr ...

'' and ''

prayojana The word "''prayojana''" is a Sanskrit term which denotes the ultimate goal or object of attainment. Along with sambandha and abhidheya, prayojana is one of the three fundamental concepts in Gaudiya Vaishnava theology, where it is used to describ ...

'', is one of the three fundamental concepts of

Gaudiya Vaishnavism Gaudiya Vaishnavism (), also known as Chaitanya Vaishnavism, is a Vaishnava Hindu religious movement inspired by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486–1534) in India. "Gaudiya" refers to the Gaura or Gauḍa region of Bengal, with Vaishnavism meanin ...

. It denotes a means of achieving the ultimate goal, dedicated ministry in the stage of practice '' Sadhana-Bhakti''. ''Abhidheya'' is what a person must develop to achieve the ultimate goal—'' prem'', or pure love of

Krishna Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one ...

, which is considered the highest achievement of the ''

''. The concepts ''sambandha'', ''abhidheya'' and ''prayojana'' are explained in the works of theologians such as Rupa Goswami and

Raghunatha dasa Goswami Raghunatha dasa Goswami (1494–1586), Dasa Goswami, was a disciples of the Śrī Yadunandan-ācārya (see Vilāpa Kusumānjali, verse 4, Caitanya-Caritāmṛta Ādi chapter 12 and Antya 6) one of the apostle of the Vaishnava saint, Chaita ...

. ''Abhidheya'' is a '' Sadhana'', a spiritual practice performed by a man after he realized the ''sambandhu'' - the original relationship with

. ''Abhideya'' is an activity aimed at meeting Krishna, pure, selfless service to Krishna, which is a means of understanding the eternal relationship of love between Krishna and the smallest ''jiva''. The eternal relationship '' jiva'' with Krishna is described in Vedic literature. Information on these relationships is called ''sambandha''. Understanding these relationships and the subsequent effect on the basis of this understanding is called ''Abhidheya''. Reaching ''Prem'', or pure love of

and returning to the spiritual world, the society of Krishna and its satellites, is the ultimate goal of life, which is called ''prayojana''.

References

* {{Citation , last=Rosen , first= Steven J. , authorlink=Steven J. Rosen , year=1994 , title=Vaisnavism: Contemporary Scholars Discuss the Gaudiya Tradition , publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ. , url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4IrQkw5x2o4C , isbn= 81-208-1235-2

External links

Abhidheya in «Chaitanya-charitamrita»
Gaudiya Vaishnavism